Festival Review: Hockley Hustle 2026

Shiloh - The Bodega (Upstairs), 1:30pm

Notts-native R&B performer Shiloh treated us to a laid-back performance at The Bodega, with her, a mic and the brilliant Cyn on guitar. There was a healthy crowd for one of Hockley Hustle's earlier performances - unsurprising, as Shiloh has been selling out shows down in London, and you can see why. She's totally at home on stage, taking us through her playlist, which often comes back to love and connection. Her humour shines through too, as she split the crowd and got us to join in with a line, "and it don't fall far from the tree." Some contributed more enthusiastically than others, and Shiloh enjoyed the to-and-fro, and the little jokes and smiles between her and Cyn added to the pleasant vibe to start the day. – Ryan Benjamin

Revenge of Calculon – Rough Trade, 1:45pm

This year at Hockley Hustle, we at LeftLion co-hosted our own stage at the festival, joining our friends over at Rough Trade. Kicking off the day at our collab stage was Rough Trade’s own house band, Revenge of Calculon, who brought with them a symphony of funk and electronica, as well as a packed house. Wearing their signature Luchador wrestling masks, they transported those in the room into outer space through their mix of groovy basslines and whirring synths. A particular highlight of the set was early single Hotdog Man, which saw the Rough Trade crowd get warmed up early doors, throwing their arms in the air and joining in with the song’s quirky refrain. – Karl Blakesley

Rainbow Frog Biscuits - Broadway Cinema, 2:30pm

Amber Louise is a big favourite here at LeftLion with her relatable, honest, often-sad but never depressing, songwriting. At Broadway Cinema they faced the huge audience with a cheery smile, just a touch of overwhelm, and probably the most sublime vocals of the day. The simple, acoustic set was a treat: transportative and bringing the diverse crowd together from the first moment through to the closing song, Two Stones. This one is RFB’s latest releases, and it’s a catchy and compelling one; performed live, it spoke with inspiring candour about the joy of finding a soulmate and realising you are “two stones in the same river". – Phil Taylor

Leah Wilcox - Six Barrels Drafthouse, 3:00pm

If you could see the band through the shoulder-to-shoulder crowd (and their pints of oh-so-delicious ale) that was a bonus, but Leah & Co were making a powerful sound meaning there was no problem hearing their upbeat Country-tinged, poppy-rock. Leah’s voice sounded strong and fearless and her band fizzed along behind, with the rhythm section particularly supportive. It was in the slower songs that Leah’s vocals really came to the fore, soaring and cutting through the voices in the bar. She combines vigour with honest focus and a great knack of capturing emotion in her writing, and that winning combination turned many heads at Six Barrels. – Phil Taylor

Leah will be presenting the new ‘Bodega Introduces’ free entry showcase gigs every Monday night from the 2nd of November.

Polly Pickpocketz - The Angel, 3pm

A bunch of misfits who look like you’d find them on a Stop-the-War Protest crossed with a bunch of characters who fell into Camden Market by mistake, Polly Pickpocketz brings to Hockley Hustle what it’s been known for the past 20 years: something eccentric and a wonderful rebellious spirit. A set packed with attitude and pace, it embodies the heart and triggers a shot of adrenaline to start the afternoon in style. For those who crave punk that grates like a chisel and is as vicious as being hurled with paint, this was one not to miss, and the ramshackled feel of the Angel bar was the perfect place to make this a fine set - a proper amuse bouche for punk lovers. – Lewis Oxley

Drew Thomas - Rough Trade, 3:45pm

Drew Thomas was one of LeftLion’s picks for the Rough Trade stage, and he didn’t let us down. He is one of those rare artists who instantly summons energy - and great amounts of it - on any stage at any time of day. He ran us through some of his biggest songs, including Girls Like Girls and Soda Friends, each performed with explosive (but spot on) vocals and plenty of hot moves. Do They Even Know You? whipped up passionate chant-alongs from the busy room, and Drew even treated us to his latest release, American Dream, live for the first time - and it went down a treat. Fame has not quite found Drew yet, as he mentioned, but there’s no one more deserving - or more equipped to deal with it - than this natural-born star. – Phil Taylor

Moon Bullet - The Angel, 4pm

Julian Woodcock’s contortionist shenanigans are on full display again with Moon Bullet storming the floor. Every shuffle, stomp, swoop and angular motion is on display and demonstrates how they have evolved into one of my favourite acts on the I’m Not from London roster. Woodcock’s antics are quintessential of the ska singer as he manages to twist Terry Hall into Notts (pun intended) with an edge of John Cooper Clarke and Ian Curtis. The band’s tight musicianship is matched by Woodcock’s freedom to recite, shapeshift and echo his poetics from afar and, within the confines of the downstairs bar at the Angel, he is able to master this craft that will hook you instantly. Truly captivating energy that captures the hustle and bustle very well. – Lewis Oxley

ROB.GREEN – The Bodega (Upstairs), 4:30pm

Somehow, it doesn’t quite feel like Hockley Hustle without a set from local soul sensation and all-round nice guy, ROB.GREEN. His set starts with familiar favourites Belief, Sleeping On My Own and Life Goes On, the crowd beaming with smiles while they clap and sing along, turning The Bodega into what feels like a rejuvenating Gospel service. However, with his debut album finally on the way next year, there is space in the set for a couple of new numbers too, including funky recent single Fade Away and unreleased love letter to Nottingham, Waterside. Ending his gig as he always does with a medley of classic covers, everyone in Bodega joining in to sing and shouting “TUNE!” at every recognisable anthem, ROB.GREEN proves once again he is a spiritual and enriching presence within the Nottingham music scene. – Karl Blakesley

Missed him at Hockley Hustle? Catch ROB.GREEN this Friday 6th November performing at Nottingham Central Library.

Lace Thief - Goose in Boots, 6:00pm

Six months on from the launch of her debut album, Inheritance, Laura Dickinson is clearly enjoying every moment of the upward-trajectory of the Lace Thief music project. At Goose In in Boots (noisy, rammed, convivial and very supportive) Laura performed a soulful solo set, somehow cutting through the noise to share her heartfelt writing and the connections it explores. Her songs shone brightly, despite their slow tempo and being stripped back to just voice and acoustic guitar. Coffee on the Brain struck a particular chord with many of her listeners, but the whole set was very well received and Laura was obviously thrilled to be there. – Phil Taylor

Willow Bay – Rough Trade, 6:45pm

There’s no teatime lull at Hockley Hustle today, as local folk outfit Willow Bay pack out Rough Trade for one of their biggest shows to date. Introducing themselves as writers of “Sad Songs”, their set is beautifully understated as they frequently switch instruments and tempos, going from banjo-backed country rock to some folkier ballads. Songs from their debut EP like I Want It All, This Love and Call It A Day get the crowd swaying, whilst unreleased track Wrong Time hints at the promise and potential still to be realised by this young band. However, the highlight of the set is undoubtedly their EP title track and today's set closer, Evangeline, an absolute barnstormer of a single which gets the crowd dancing and singing loudly along. A band that just get better every time we see them. – Karl Blakesley

Sam Shaw + The Real Eyes - Fox & Grapes, 7pm

Sam Shaw + The Real Eyes come into the Fox & Grapes all shimmering and keen to see the dark sky in with an interesting concoction of psychedelia and shoegaze. Despite their not being a psychedelic light show, which would have truly set the scene, the set oozes a river of sound. This all comes to a head in a cosmic rendition of The Beatles’ Tomorrow Never Knows, the peak of all psychedelic compositions and the most experimental track of all time. Shaw and his Real Eyes bravely embarked on doing this composition justice and it safely paid off to the vast approval of those packed in the Fox & Grapes this evening. It’s a set that encapsulates the nature of the psychedelic beast to the nth degree, and should funnel more Notts bands to follow the psychedelic road and take the trip. – Lewis Oxley

UFO Orchestra & Special Guests - St Mary’s Church, 7:45pm

UFO are one of the city’s most exciting and downright impressive offerings, a pop-up orchestra of huge skill (for those wondering, the name stands for the Ultimate Flyby Orchestra) who get together for special events such as the Hustle.

This year their lengthy performance in the magical setting of St Mary’s featured several well-known local singers, including Nina Smith, Vee Adu and ROB.GREEN. Hearing a 60-piece orchestra filling a lofty, special space like this one with their organic, melded sounds is a rare treat and unparalleled experience; and there can be few festivals that offer this amazing component. Most of the audience experiences the show in the round, with the orchestra in the centre of the church’s nave, meaning a great close-up view of the musicians at work. Another special part of this orchestral experience is the accessibility of the music: the repertoire was wide ranging and included a stunning version of Paint It Black a lá Wednesday Addams, and the haunting and intensely dramatic theme from Severance. An unforgettable part of the day. – Phil Taylor

itsaliceandella - Lost Again, 8pm

Alice and Ella are DJs and producers involved with the legendary Nottingham dance collective Smokescreen Soundsystem, which creates free parties across the Midlands. Tonight, Alice was on the decks, effortlessly mixing dance, deep house, and techno at Lost Again. The club is based at Goose Gate in Hockley, and once downstairs you're met with a sizable venue, with seating areas, pool tables, a small DJ booth and, tonight at least, a homemade jewellery stall from Megs' Mystic Makes. The pair have made a name for themselves both locally and internationally, playing at The Brickworks at Sneinton Market as well as Paradise Lost in Ibiza. – Ryan Benjamin

Andrew Tucker Leavis - Goose In Boots, 8pm

Then just next door to Lost Again, it's a completely different vibe as LeftLion Literature Editor and New Nottingham Journal founder Andrew Tucker Leavis headlines The Notts Review stage at Goose In Boots. We may be biased of course given his ties to the magazine, but even our guests agree Leavis' vocals are one of the best on show today. Drawing inspiration from The Divine Comedy, his set is an enchanting blend of folk and blues, using just his voice and an acoustic guitar for instruments. It's a magical, autumnal performance that shows there really is no end to this man's varied talents. – Karl Blakesley

Benjamin Luhis - Broadway Cinema - 9:30pm

Broadway hosted eleven acts during Hockley Hustle, turning the café and bar area into a gig space with plenty of standing room, seating, and a stage large enough to host Nottingham multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer, Benjamin Luhis. During the set, Luhis skillfully switched between his compact Arturia keyboard and his bass, meshing well with his band to produce the mellow mix of jazz, alt-R&B and broken beat he's become known for in the local music scene. He's played at venues such as Jam Café and the New Art Exchange, and further afield at Ronnie Scott's in London. – Ryan Benjamin

TRANKS - The Angel, 10pm

If you fancy a bit of a pre-Halloween death disco then TRANKS will provide the goods to get you into the mood. Chris Davis as drummer and lead vocalist balances both acts incredibly well, performing in a sort of Jekyll and Hyde fashion between roles. Huddled once again at The Angel, I slithered towards the front to immerse myself in the powerful industrial sound that draws from Movement-era New Order, early Human League, as well as Cabaret Voltaire and Beak. The music is a futuristic ideal for living, a motorik version of musique concrete without all the pretentiousness. Aided by bassist Chris Moore and guitarist Dave Statin, the trio convert their energy into something hypnotic and tantalising. Each number is a soundscape that cuts through the sluggish urban landscape, eliminating all the ennui and fatigue within its path. – Lewis Oxley

To catch more of this hypnotic fever, be sure to catch them up at Gedling Miners Welfare with techno veteran Filter Sequence for an evening of industrial soundscapes and gothic-infused splendour. Not for the faint-hearted!

Seas of Mirth - Broadway Cinema, 11:30pm

Closing out Hockley Hustle in Broadway, which looks beyond recognition without its usual furniture of tables and chairs arranged in rows. The displacement is forgotten within the first few seconds once the jellyfish mascots appear within an array of deep blues and purples miraging the waves of the sea. Al Juddy & co. are perhaps Notts’ most quirky band and this, my fifth time seeing them in two years, was an ultimate testament to their longevity.

A band orchestrated by a manifesto of groove, groove and more groove, they are an entire genre on their own, a disco through the deepest and most ponderous of all the elements. The faint air conditioning from the roof and a sea breeze within a cinema - it makes the all-encompassing atmosphere take you away into the night. The last trip of the day, the 11:30pm voyage upon the Seas of Mirth vessel was their most lively and thrilling performance - a show well worth staying up for! – Lewis Oxley

The 20th edition of Hockley Hustle took place on Sunday 25th October at multiple venues across Hockley and you can see more incredible highlights from the day in our extensive photo gallery below.